The Words I Spoke

Again, this is hard for me to post, but I do it for the people who could not be with us in person, but in spirit.  Your love for my Father has reached the depths of my soul and I post this for you.  The following words were spoken with shaking hands and what I hope was a clear voice.  When I did look up, the mass of people who were there for my Father, were blurred lines of color and sadness.  I will always remember the morning I wrote these words, huddled in blankets with tears streaming down my face.  My fingers flying over the keyboard faster than the thoughts came to mind.  This is where I could "give in."  The comfort of words.  Peace be with you~Kassie

My name is Kassandra-Kassie Bush-Mayo and I am 

one of Tim’s eldest.

Three days before my father’s death, I found myself asking God in bitter anguish, “How much can one human take?”  The answer unfortunately came throughout the following days. Upon learning of my dad’s death and watching my family fall apart, put each other back together, and partake in traditions new and old, I felt God answer me in this way, “It’s not a question of how much a human can take, because I created you to survive the very worst this world could give” and what could be worse than the moment we currently are in? “But, when I created you, I gave you a gift, your spirit, your soul.  And I gave you that gift to show you just how much I love you and how much I don’t want you to just survive, but how much I long for you to choose to thrive in this life.”  This means that we are each given a chance, a choice, to choose how we are going to allow these circumstances affect our lives and our souls.

When I look out among you and see the love and the hurt and the pain of the loss of a very good friend, a hardworking co-worker, an awesome uncle, the best of brothers, a forever father, and a loving husband, I see that my Dad choose to thrive throughout the pain in this life.  Which is why it is so easy for us to celebrate his life.

In closing, I would like to read to you a portion of a song that my father would quote me often as “that Tim McGraw song” and it just so happened to be the very first song we heard on the radio the night we lit the fire for Dad.

I was early in my 40’s with a lot of life before me, and a moment came that stopped me in my tracks.

I was finally the husband that most the time I wasn’t. And I became a friend a friend would like to have. And all the sudden goin fishing wasn’t such an imposition and I went three times that year I lost my dad.  Well I finally read the good book, and I took a good long hard look at what I’d do if I could do it all again.

Like tomorrow was a gift and you’ve got eternity to think about what would you do with it, what could you do with it, what can I-what can you do with it

I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter and I gave forgiveness I’ve been denying, he said

To the love of my life, to my beautiful daughters, to the sons and son in laws I’m so proud of, to my grandbaby girls, my brothers and my sisters, to my family, my hunting buddies and my friends, I hope you get the chance to live like you were dyin

A Week Ago Today...

A week ago today, My Father passed away due to a hunting accident.  While there is so much I have in me that is aching to get out, the time is just not right.  I am hesitant to post this, but know how much it has helped people and going to continue to help them in the days to come.  My husband Nick, was given the honor to officiate my Father memorial service.  While it was extremely hard for him as he was dealing with the grief of losing a Father figure, friend, and mentor, the words he spoke brought so much comfort, that I just have to share.  Peace be with you all~Kassie

Thank you for coming here today to celebrate the life and memories of Tim Bush. The family has been humbled, honored, and encouraged by your presence here today and your gestures of love during this past week.

Tim Bush, to me, was a man’s man. He led a quiet life and worked hard with his hands. He respected and honored others. He was the type of guy that rooted for the underdog. He loved to hunt and fish. He could cook any type of meat in any manner you could think of and he loved to share with whoever was hungry.  But most importantly, he knew how to love. Proverbs tells us “above all else guard your hearts for they are the well spring of life.” Tim in his own way was able to guard your heart. Whether you were his family, friends, neighbor, coworker, a principle, or a student in the hallway being picked on by bullies, Tim knew how to love you in the way you needed to be loved. He knew how to stop and invest and protect your heart in a subtle way that you are somebody, that you are valued.

Over the last few days I have been really struggling with why such a terrible thing had to happen to such a great person like Tim. Really it’s the age old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people.” Especially the best ones like Tim. It is in Tim’s life that I believe to have found my response.

A few months ago the water supply for the town of Macy went bad and Tim gathered a truckload of donations of water and sanitary wipes to take up to the town. Just a few weeks ago Macy had a tornado go through it and Tim went up there with his chain saw to help remove trees. Though these were the most recent of Tim’s acts of servant hood and love, they are not the only ones. From saving the neighborhood cats to helping the elderly evacuate the Benson Towers from a fire, Tim was always there when help was needed. Tim had seen plenty of bad things happen in his lifetime and Tim knew they were inevitable. Tim also knew it was his job to do whatever he could to help in those times of need. 

It is because of Tim’s willingness to help regardless of the cost that I am now able to look and see that the question is not why do bad things happen to good people but what do good people do when bad things happen. Bad things will happen, hard times will come, they are out of my control but what I can control is my response to those moments. Yes what happened to Tim really sucks but, I also know Tim would want me to press on. He would want me to continue to love and encourage my family and to never fail to lend a helping hand when needed. I believe the best way I can honor Tim and I encourage you to do the same, is to continuing living our lives in such away that instills peace, hope, and love in the hearts of those around us. To fight for what is good and pure and bring light and healing to the broken world around us, just as Tim did. And I will leave you with this verse from Ephesians 2:10; "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." I believe Tim gave us a pretty good example of what this looks like. It is my prayer that you will not let the bad things that happen in life let you miss the opportunities to protect the hearts of those in your life and do the good things God has prepared in advance for you to do.

Going the "Extra Mile"

This last week I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had won the Greg Young Chevrolet Educators who "Go the Extra Mile" award.  they came to my classroom, presented me a check, video tapped me with my students, and did an interview.  It was a little nerve racking, but my students LOVED it and thought they were going to be "in movies!"  I do have to say, I work at an amazing school-Brownell Talbot-where it is easy to go the extra mile.  My co-teachers Stephanie and Anjuli are absolutely amazing and I couldn't do my job the way I do without them.

Here I am with a few of my students and the "Greg Young Guy"

My friend Angie nominated me for this award last March and here is what she said, "My nominee that goes the extra mile is Kassandra Mayo.  She goes the extra mile by making sure her students get a well rounded education and get to experience new things daily.  Kassandra has made her classroom a nature friendly environment.  She always takes time to make sure each student know that they are special and she is glad that they are in her class.  Kassandra has a heart of gold.  Her passion for teaching is always noticed by others and just emanates through her actions.  She is always involved with activities that go on in the school.  Kassandra is always doing new activities and is always thinking of new ideas to expose her students to all the exciting and new wonders of learning."

Check out WOWT interview here:http://www.wowt.com/video?videoid=2696066

Four-Wheelers and Target Practice

My dad took three of us girls and Nick out for a day of four-wheeling and target practice.  It was cold, raining, muddy, and freaking awesome!  This day will forever go down as one of "the best days ever!"

We had a ton of fun on the four wheelers and I even had the opprotunity to freak Nick out with my awesome jumping skills.  He claims to have caught "3 feet of air" during his run and now wants to "invest" in one. I'm game!

Now for the target practice.  Despite what your belife's are about guns, laws, and whatever, I'm currently trying to figure out my stance on the whole subject.  Which is why I asked Nick and my dad to teach me how to use a gun.  Let's just say, for the first time ever firing, I'm a pretty good shot!

Photo Booth Fun

My Uncle Doug and Aunt Tracie had a photo booth at their wedding last month.  Here are a few shots of the craziness that is our family!

My beautiful sisters

My lovely nieces and great-lil-cousin Aiden

My Dad's "Crew"

Too cool with my Aunt Dawny and my Cousin Alania

My handsome hubby and I

My cousin Jenna and Great Cousins Aiden and Jayla

Some of my favorite people, Uncle and Auntie

My sis Honey and Aunts Donna and photobomber Dawn

Some more of my favorite people, Great cousin Justina and her daughter Jayla